Process of securing potassium cyanid from water-insoluble potassium-containing mineral.



taken JAMES HENRY REID. 0F NEWARK. NEW JERSEY.

PROCESS OF SECURING POTASSIUM CYANID FROM' WATERJNSOLT BIF CONTAININGMINERAL.

1.226.811. No Drawing. Application filed September 30. 1915.

To ll whom it noo eonmrrn:

Be itknrnvn thatl. Jain-ts llrlsin' limo. a eitizen of the lnitedStates, resiilin; at. 352 hlulherry avenue. in the eity ot' Neu ark.county of Essex. State of New Jersey.

have inventetl eertain new antl useful improvements in Proresses otHeeuring lotassium (yanitl from \Vatenlnsoluhle lotas shun-ContainingBlineral. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates tothe making :Illli separation of potassiumcyanitl from waterinsoluble potaslrhearing minerals, sueh as thesilieious romhinations ot' potassilnn of emu-pound. eom'posite or('ompleX silieatenatare antl has for its ohjeet the making aml. seeuringol solnhle potassium eonnoumls t'rom feldspar of the orthoelase or otherva- 'riety or other potash hearing minerals such as mieroeline. leueite.museovite (potash non. ettn. antl eomprises subjecting the potashhearing mineral to the aetion of ehemieal reagents capable oftransforming thepotassium eontent into evanitl volatilivr able. at'elevated tennau'atures and subjectin; the eomposition to internalelectrical ilisruption aml augmenting the ehemieal reaetion in theproiluetion of the ilesi 1M prodnet by the aetion ol" an eleetriecurrent so ilisposeil aml ((Hltlflllttl as to prmluee the (lt'Sll'Qtl,proiluet autl volatilize the same and then after volatilizationseparating alnl seeuring the. volatilized potassium eyan'nl from theassoelatetl gaseous vehiele by the aetionof elertri'eity ol sueheharaeter as to eause the potassium eompoul'nls to be pre eipitatetl andseparated therefrom;-

' ln carrying out the invention, the malting and separation of potassiumcyaniii from orthoelase or potash feldspar ()rthoelase. \vhi'rh is a(lOlllllB silicate of potassium aml aluminium earrying free sih iea, istaken aml ltlllltLtl to a line powllll'Otl ('Ulltlltltll]. To this isaihlell ealriuni .earhitl in exeess o!" moleeular proportion to art withthe potassium silicateeontentantl convert the same in the preseni'eotnitrogen. when heateil. into ealeium silieato illltl potassium\-Hlll(l. To the orthoelase. isaihletl also-about 10% of potassiumeyanid int tially tor the purpose of [taxing the nia-i terial. i

Anteleetrio eurrent is then passed through :the mixture of sulliciontvolume and inten- Specification of Letters Pzitcnt.

will he atentetl Ma) 3'5. I917.

Serial No. 53.302.

it to transl'orm the silic-ious potassium (0mponml into l"\2lllitl alnlelevate the temperature to a point at \vhieh the potas ium cyallltlvolatilizes. 'l'his volatilizeil potassium evanirl assoeiateli with airor other gaseousproiluets passes out from the material being aeteil uponand is separaleil by condensing lllllllt'tll or augmented in elertrieityor what; may he termeil elertrtwomlensation.

This operation may he augmented by a rurrent of nitrogen prel'erahlypre-heated hein; ransetl to eirenlate ineontatit with the reartiveingredients \vhieh faeilitates the volatilization of the potash eompoundain-l (:ll'l' \lll ol' the same to a point where it is eonilenseil amlroller-tell.

Instead of employing an inilireet ehe'mie all rearting' suhstaneeeapahle of transforming! the potassium silieate into volatile potassiumevanhl. snhstanees \v'hieh may rt art ilireetlv to protlnee the volatilepotassium C Yil-llltl may he emploveil sueh as assoeiating l'ehlspar illthe potash hearing va-' riety \vitlrealeinm ()Wlll'ltl aml passingnitrogenover or through the same in a heated eonklition usherehvpotassium eyanitlmay amt finally secured through volatilization amlllti'tltl-(UhtltllStltion, eleetrieitv through the mixture to overcomeresistalu'e is (itl'l'lPtl by the earhitl \vhieli" terial heeomellttlilll. the lltllilttl product grailuall i' inrreases in itsi-omluetivity so that illl' HpPl'nllHH may heearrietl on with-' outfurther a le'nn-nting the same by a substanee. sueh ils t'lll'llltl.eapahle'of reducing resistant-e. atter fusion the imerat-ion may heearrieil on by passinga current ot eloctrieity tlrerettir mgh amtathling further ingredients to the fused material in pro In this easethe initial-passing of top; from v sis portion not suflicient to coolthe same below a point of its superior electrical conductivity.

In the production of potassium cyanid other water-insoluble mierals orsubstances containing insoluble potassium. compounds than orthoclasc maybe employed, among which may be mentioned, muscovite or potash mica,leucite, which is a species of feldspar containing less silicon thanorthoclase. Also insoluble phosphates, lluo--phosphates, and fluoride,such as amblygonite,triphylite, cryolite, and other compounds containingalkali-metal in an employed instead of silicates, as materials fromwhich to prodiure a separate potas sium cyanid by the prot ss hereindescribed and are intende to be included and claimed herein as part ofthe invention.

It obvious that the proportion 01' cal cium. cyanid, calcium carbid andnitrogen, or other compound employiul to dislodge, displace or transformthe potassium From its insoluble compound or composition may be .variedin accordance with the character of the potassium or alkali-metalcompound to be transformed. the potassium or alkalii netal compoundproduced, and the mineral operated on, also with reference to lheamount'of potassium or alkali-metal silicate and free silica present,all of which should be ascertained before eonuneneing t cfioperation.

It will be noted that the transiormation of potash of alkalianeialbearing silicate or other mineral is carried on by the action ofinternal dry heat or by the action of electricity on the materials whilein an anhydrous conditionand that the separation. delivery. and securingof the potassium or alkali-metal compound produced. is oh taincd byvolatilizing the product and prccipitating the same at a point distantfrom the point of production and by the action oi" clcctro-conilcnsaiionacting upon the iailassium an allmli-mcial compound vapor or sublimatcpwr m, or while suspended and associated with other dry fluids ofgaseous or vaporous nature.

lfiy acting on the material through the agency oi a current olclcctricity fussed thcrclhrough the matcrml is internally insoluble formcan be Having now described my invention what 1 claim isz- 1. Theprocess of: making and securing potassium cy'anid from water-insolublep0- tassium ci'mtaining mineral, which comprises exposing the potassiumcontaining ,mincral with a carbid and nitrogen capa- T l the action oian electric currcnl oi sul'licicnt volume and intensity to inducereaction and volatilize the product, Eand finally collecting thevolatilizablc potassium compound from the associalcd gascous vchiclc byclccl.ro-coudcnsalion.

J3. 'lhc process of making and securing. potassium cyanid i'ronipotassium silicate containing mineral, which comprises mi.\'- ing thepotassium silicate containing miueral with a carbid and nitrogen capableof reacting and forming potassiun'i cyanid thereto. and exposing theingredients to the action of an electric currcnl oii' sullicient volinneand intensity to induce reaction and volatilize the produc r; Theprocess-of makiug.ai1d sccuring potassium ('Tanid from potassiumsilicate containing minerah which comprises mixing the potassiumsilicate containing .min cral with a carbid and nitrogen capable oireacting and forming potassium c 'anid thereto, and exposingllicingredicnls to the action oi an electric current oi" sulllcientvolume and intensity to induce reaction and volatilize the product, andiiualiy collecting thc \olalilizablc potassium compound from theassociated gaseous vehicle by clcci ro-comlensation.

a. The process of making anl securing potassium c anid from feldspar,which comprises mixing the i'cldspar with a carbid and supplyingnitrogen capable of reacting aiid forming potassium cyanid thereto, andexposing the ingredients to the action of an electric current oisuilicien-t.

ill!) cient volume and intensity the volatilizable potassium conipoundfmm'" the associated condensation. I

'7. The process of makingj'an'dsec In potassium cyanid from orthoclase,whic comprises mixing the orthoclase witha carbid and supplying nitrogencapablebf are.-

acting and formlng potassium ,cyanid tl'iereto, and exposing theingredients the action of an electric current of sufli cient volume andintensity to inducerea'ction and volatilize theproduch k 8. The processof making and securing potassium cyanid from orthoclase, whichcomprises'mixin'g the orthoclase with a carbid and supply nitrogencapable of reacting 9. The process of making and securing potassiumcyanid from water-insoluble potassium containing mineral, whichcomprises exposing the potassium containing m neral with a calciumcarbid and nitrogen capable of reacting and forming potassium cyanidthereto, and exposing the ingredients to the action of an electriccurrent of sulficient volume and intensity to induce reaction. andvolatilize the product.

10. The process of making and securing potassium cyanid fromWater-insoluble potassium containing mineral, which comprises exposingthe potassium containing mineral with a calcium carbid and nitrogencapable of reacting and forming potassium cyanid thereto, and exposingthefiingredients to the action of an electric current of sufiicient,volume and intensity to .induce reaction and volatilize the product,and finally collecting thevolatilizable potassium compound from theassociated gaseous vehicle by electro-condensation.

11. The process of making and securing potassium cyanid 'from potassiumsilicate containing mineral, which comprises mix.- ing the potassiumsilicate containin mineral with a calcium carbid and nitrogen capable ofreacting and forming potassium cyanid thereto, and exposing theingredients to the action of an electric current of suflito induce reaction and volatilize the product.

12. The process of making and securing potassium cyanid from potassiumsilicate gaseous vehicle by electrocontainingfmiueral, which comprisesmixmg the potassium silicate containing mina; calcium earbid andnitrogen fl volatilize' the product, and finally collecting thevolaliihzalble potassium compound from the associated gaseous;vehicle"by electro-condensation.

13; The process of making and securin potassiumycyanid from feldspar,Whic comprises'mlxingthe feldspar with 11 calclum carbid 'and'supplyingnitrogen capable of reacting andnid thereto, andexposingtheingredientsto orming potasslum cyathe action of anelectriceurre'nti ofsuflicientvolume and'intensityto induce reaction and volatilize the product, andfinally collecting the volatilizable potassium compound from gaseousvehicle by electrothe associated condensation p p 14. The process ofmaking, and Securing potassium cyanid from orthoclase', which comprlsesmixing the orthoclase with a calcium carbid and supplying nitrogencapable of reacting and forming potasslumcyanid thereto, and exposin theingredients to the action of an electr1c current of sufiicient volumeand intensity volatilize the product. I

p 15. The process of making and securin potassium cyanid from feldspar,a. whic toinduce reaction and comprises mixing'the feldspar with a cal--cium carbid and supplying nitrogen capable of reactingandformingpotassium cyanid thereto, and exposin the ingredients to theaction of an electric current ofsuflicient' reaction and,

volume and intensity'to induce volatilize the product.

16. The process of making and securing'potassium cyanid from orthoclase,which comprises mixing the. orthoclase with a calciumcarbid andsupplying nitrogen capable of reacting and forming potnsslumcyanidthereto, and exposing the'ing'redients to the action of an electriccurrent i of sulficient volume and intensity to lnduce reactloniandvolatilize the product, and finally collecting the volatilizablepotassium compound from the associated gaseous vehicle by electrocondensation. In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses. 4

JAMES HENRY REID. [n s.] \Vitnesses:

CHARLES P. Swm'r, ERNEST H. BALL.

